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I paid N80m ransom to Tukur Mamu for my mum, sister’s release, witness tells court

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A witness identified as prosecution witness D has testified in the ongoing trial of Tukur Mamu, the publisher of Desert Herald newspaper, at the federal high court in Abuja.

 

The masked witness was led in evidence on Thursday by David Kaswe, a lawyer to the attorney-general of the federation (AGF).

 

Mamu is facing trial on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism after he was accused of aiding and negotiating with the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train in March 2022.

Mamu was accused of collecting $120,000 in ransom payments on behalf of Boko Haram terrorists responsible for the train attack.

 

He was also accused of exchanging voice note communications relating to the hostages with one Baba Adamu, a Boko Haram spokesperson.

 

However, the Desert Herald publisher pleaded not guilty to the terrorism charges.

 

THURSDAY’S PROCEEDINGS

Giving his testimony, the witness said he was informed that his mother and sister were among the passengers on board the train during the March 2022 attack.

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The witness said a day after the terrorist attack, he visited the Kaduna hospital where the injured passengers were taken but could not see his mother and sister.

 

The witness told the court one of the abductors called him two weeks after the attack via telephone and asked him to speak with his sister.

 

He added that there was regular communication between him and the terrorists for about two weeks before they demanded a ransom of N200 million.

 

The witness said the terrorists provided him with the names and phone numbers of four journalists who could be contacted for negotiations.

 

He said out of the four journalists, only Mamu volunteered “to take up the responsibility”.

 

The witness said while struggling to raise the money for ransom, he received calls from Lucky Irabor, former chief of defence staff (CDS), and Yusuf Bichi, the former director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS).

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He said the former defence staff requested a meeting in Abuja.

 

The witness said he was instructed by Irabor to tell him whatever he discussed with Mamu, adding that the former defence chief connected him with the committee set up by the federal government to facilitate the release of the kidnapped victims.

 

The witness said after he told the terrorists that Mamu had agreed to negotiate with them, they stopped communicating with him.

“As soon as they contacted Tukur Mamu, they stopped communicating with us. All information is from Tukur Mamu,” he told the court.

 

“We will go to Tukur Mamu, and he will tell us they have asked us to pay N100 million each.

 

“When the negotiation was going on, we had to link Tukur Mamu with the CDS committee.”

 

He added that one day, his sister called him from captivity to go back to Mamu for negotiations.

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“After some people started getting their loved ones out, it got to a stage that kidnappers were no longer talking with the CDS committee,” he added.

 

“It should be noted that Tukur Mamu penciled me as a government agent. So, he never wants to talk to me.”

 

The witness said Mamu later agreed to communicate after a relation, who was the publisher’s former boss, intervened in the matter.

 

The witness said he negotiated the ransom from N200 million to N80 million and took the ransom in cash in August 2022 to Mamu in his Kaduna residence.

 

The witness disclosed that he was asked to convert the money to dollars, adding that the money amounted to $118,750 after the conversion.

 

He said two weeks later, Mamu called him for additional money to make it up to $120,000.

 

He added that his mother and sister were released after the ransom was paid.

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Okada rider stabbed to death over N100 ticket in Ogun

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A commercial motorcyclist has reportedly been stabbed to death by a transport union tax collection group, popularly known as agberos, following an argument over a N100 ticket in the Ijoko area of Ogun State.

According to reports, the incident occurred on Tuesday night after a disagreement between the deceased and some levy collectors escalated into a violent confrontation.

While it was unclear if the suspect had been arrested, the killing reportedly sparked protests by commercial motorcyclists across Lambe, Agbado and Akute communities.

Some riders were seen confronting levy collectors in parts of the affected areas, disrupting transport activities and forcing many commuters to trek to their destinations.

A motorcyclist said that two persons were stabbed during the altercation, but only one survived.

“They were fighting over a N100 ticket. It started as a small argument before it escalated on Tuesday night. The person who was killed is one of the motorcyclists from Nasarawa,” he said.

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“His colleagues are the ones now confronting agberos in Lambe, Ijoko and parts of Akute.”

Another rider in Akute confirmed the incident, saying tensions had remained high since the killing.

“The man was stabbed to death by one of the agberos during an argument over the ticket. The agbero suddenly brought out a knife and stabbed him,” he said.

“Some riders have refused to work since then, which is why there are fewer commercial motorcyclists around today. The police are aware and arrested some people during another confrontation.”

Violent clashes between commercial motorcyclists and levy collectors are not new in the state. In recent years, riders have repeatedly protested what they describe as extortion and harassment.

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VIDEO: Police bust illegal baby factory in Ekiti

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The Ekiti State Police Command says its operatives have uncovered an illegal baby factory located in Ikere Local Government Area of the state.

The state commissioner of police, Joe Eribo, who disclosed this to journalists, said the command received a tip-off and arrested one Onyechi Oluwadare, alongside four other suspects behind a popular hotel along Ise-Ekiti Road, Ikere-Ekiti.

Other people arrested were, Onuoha Gloria, Victoria Linus, Ihegbogu Mercy, and a pregnant woman, Emmanuel Esther.

 

The statement read in part, “On the 24/01/2026 at about 08:30hrs, the Command received a credible tip-off that the prime suspect, Oluwadare Onyechi, a 43-year old woman, runs an illegal baby gactory alongside four other suspects somewhere behind Inisa Hotel and Suit, along Ise-Ekiti Road, Ikere-Ekiti.

“Upon the receipt of the information, the Command Operatives swung into action, cordon off the premises used for the illegal business, and arrested Oluwadare Onyechi and four other accomplices namely, Onuoha Gloria ‘28 yrs’, Victoria Linus ‘25 yrs’, Ihegbogu Mercy ‘21 yrs’ and a heavily pregnant Emmanuel Esther ’23yrs’.

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“Search was conducted in the premises and six children within the age of 2 and 9 reasonably suspected to be under bondage and exploitation were rescued. Items such as baby delivery materials, some rolls of dexamethasone tablet, and some bottles of Goya oil were recovered from the scene”.

The prime suspect in the alleged baby factory, Onyechi, denied the allegations, saying she only prays in the building for those seeking God’s favour.

The Command’s operatives also arrested one Ibrahim Abubakar, a notorious cattle rustler.

Investigation revealed that Ibrahim Abubakar has over the years, rustled numerous cattle in Ekiti, Kwara and Kogi States and has been on the wanted list of the three States.

During investigation, Ibrahim Abubakar confessed that he is into cattle rustling business and equally mentioned different occasions in the past where he attacked Cattle owners and made away with their cattle.

A large number of rustled cattle numbering two hundred and fifty-five(255) were recovered from him, alongside other 303 cattles recovered from prime suspect, making 558 cattles.

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NAFDAC uncovers fake Goya oil factory, counterfeit alcoholic drinks syndicate in Lagos

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Operatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have uncovered an illegal factory producing fake Goya oil in Lagos.

The agency also dismantled a major syndicate involved in the counterfeiting of alcoholic drinks in Lagos, warning that the activities pose grave dangers to public health.

Martins Iluyomade, Director of Investigation and Enforcement at NAFDAC and Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Fake and Substandard Products, said the discoveries were made during surveillance and enforcement operations carried out over the past few weeks.

“We have carried out a couple of activities in recent weeks, and what we discovered was very surprising to us. We felt it was important to speak with Nigerians so they can know what has been going on,” Iluyomade said.

He disclosed that NAFDAC operatives uncovered an illegal operation inside Oke-Arin market, Lagos, where counterfeit Goya oil was being produced locally.

“The original Goya oil is imported into this country through a reputable company, and there are still original products in circulation. But we discovered that some people were faking this product and manufacturing it inside the market,” he said.

According to Iluyomade, the fake oil was produced by burning palm oil and adding chlorine, using crude equipment like stove.

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“They were using a stove. We saw the stove and everything they were using. We also saw a large number of empty bottles they were refilling and repackaging,” he added.

Iluyomade warned Nigerians, particularly, churches and prayer houses, stressing that original Goya oil is never packaged in plastic (PET) bottles.

“Let me say this clearly to everybody—churches, prayer houses, and anywhere this oil is used: there is no original Goya oil packed in plastic bottles. Original Goya oil comes in glass bottles,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to report anyone selling the product in plastic bottles to the nearest NAFDAC office.

“Anywhere you see Goya oil being sold in PET bottles, report it. People should beware, noting that the use of fake anointing oils in religious settings had become widespread and dangerous.

“Some people even drink anointing oil. You are not drinking anointing oil—you are drinking poison,” Iluyomade said.

The enforcement director explained that NAFDAC’s strategy is to halt production at the source rather than punish unsuspecting traders.

“We are stopping the production. Once there is no new supply, whatever is in the market will dry up,” he said.

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“We do not want to compound the problem of market women and others who may not know. But for the producers, it is the end of the road.”

He appealed to religious bodies to cooperate with the agency.

“We are not issuing threats, but it will not be nice for us to arrest people within your premises. Please partner with us and do not allow the sale or use of this product,” he said.

Iluyomade also revealed that NAFDAC had busted a major operation involved in the production of fake alcoholic drinks in Lagos.

“The faking of alcoholic drinks has become seriously endemic in Nigeria because it is one of the easiest products to counterfeit,” he said.

He said a suspect, Mr. Moses Nelson, was arrested in the Badagry area of Lagos and has been charged to court.

“In his house, we found all manner of fake products—virtually every major brand. There was none we did not see,” Iluyomade said.

According to him, the syndicate operated a distribution chain, producing the drinks in Badagry and supplying them to major markets across Lagos.

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NAFDAC also warned distributors against patronising unauthorised suppliers.

“You know the original owners of these brands. Why buy from people you know are not the owners just to make more money? In the process, you are killing people,” he cautioned.

He also advised Nigerians to be wary of unusually cheap products.

“If the normal price is five naira and someone offers it at three naira, you should be suspicious. The little money you want to save, I hope you will not spend it in the hospital,” he said.

Stating that no one has the right to endanger the lives of others, Iluyomade appealed to Nigerians engaged in such illegal businesses to desist.

“We are all Nigerians and everyone wants to make ends meet, but no Nigerian has the right to make ends meet at the expense of the health of another Nigerian,” he said.

“No one has the right to make huge profits while increasing the health burden of this country.”

He assured Nigerians that NAFDAC would sustain enforcement actions nationwide and urged the public to stop patronising counterfeit products and report suspicious activities to the agency.

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